Packaging and dispensing razor blades



Dec. 1, 1942. Q J. G. ROBERTS 2,303,764

PACKAGING AND DISPENSING RAZOR BLADES Filed Dec. 19, 1938 2 Sheets-Shet1 INVENTOR Dec. l, 1942. J. G. ROBERTS 2,303,764

PACKAGING AND DISPENSING RAZOR BLADES Filed Dec. 19. 1938 2Sheets-Sheet- 2 J a 7 U /6 23 'INVENTOR MRM Patented Dec. 1, 1942PACKAGING AND DISPENSING RAZOR BLADES John G. Roberts, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 7

Application December 19, 1938, Serial No. 246,609

3 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing packages for individually wrappedrazor blades and is applicable to blades of generally rectangularcontour having unsharpened end edges, at which they may be convenientlyand safely handled, and at least one longitudinally extending sharpedge. The object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide forthe simple, safe and rapid transfer of the blade by hand from itspackage free of its wrapper to the razor, all without any touching ofthe blade except edgewise at its unsharpened ends. In particular theobject is to provide the blades with individual wrappers of sheetmaterial and to hold them stacked in a container from which one bladeafter another may be withdrawn along with its wrapper and then, withoutnecessity of any unfolding, be instantly engaged edgewise in the fingersat the blade ends, slipped out of the wrapper and without change of gripplaced in the razor. This is accomplished by means of a single foldwrapper, the folded edge of which overlaps one of the longitudinal edgesof the blade, preferably that edge which lies adjacent the dispensingopening of the container, the other three wrapper edges being open andthat part of the wrapper adjacent the blade ends being restricted inflatwise coverage of the blade sufiiciently to permit such engagement.

An efiective packaging arrangement is one in which the blades arefrictionally held in fixed position within their respective wrappers bypressure means exerted on the stack. Such means,

preferably a spring, is also the means for keeping one end of the stackin such position that there is always a blade available opposite thedelivery opening. The wrapper may be waxed paper, Cellophane or othersheet material. It may be of rectangular shape substantially the samelength as the blade but extending beyond the lateral cutting edges.Preferably the dimensions in length and width of the wrapper when foldedare respectively substantially the same as, or slightly less than, thecorresponding inside dimensions of the container.

The container may be made of any suitable material such as heavycardboard, paper or sheet metal. A desirable metal container is oneformed of two parts which fit and lock together. One of these parts, thefloor section, may include the pressure means in the form of a pair oflifting springs struck up from the metal surface. The other or roofsection may be provided with a finger hole for frictional engagementwith the outermost blade to facilitate its removal through the deliveryopening.

In order further to insure that each blade shall remain in fixedposition within its wrapper, the container itself may be formed to limitthe movement of the blades in one lateral direction and the wrapper maybe shaped or formed to limit such movement in the opposite direction.Such a wrapper may be cut in various ways. Preferably it would have apair of wing extensions bent at the corners to engage the bladeshoulders. This bent condition may be maintained by cutting the wingswith a slightly greater spread than the lengthwise dimension of thecontainer.

The container may be one compartment of a two compartment box. In one ofthese compartments new blades'would preferably be vertically disposed.The other compartment would be suitable for used blades.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an illustration indicating the manner inwhichthe package is used; Fig. 2, an enlarged view of the package; Figs. 3and 4 are mid-sectional views on lines 3-3 and 3-4, respectively, Fig.2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view from bottom showing a springconstruction; Fig. 6, a view of a blade placed on its wrapper beforefolding; and. Figs. '7 to 12 are illustrations of an alternativeconstruction, of which Fig. 7 is a general view of the package; Fig. 8,an enlarged sectional view on line 88, Fig. 9; Fig. 9, an enlargedsectional view on line 9-9, Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a view of a transparentwrapper with enclosed blade; Fig. 11, a view of such wrapper beforefolding; and Fig. 12, a sectional view on line l2-I2, Fig. 10.

A suitable packaging construction for the in-. vention may include a boxcomprising a roof section I and a floor section 2 fitting together andinterlocking in a manner hereinafter explained in connection with thealternative construction. At the upper level of the box front 3 is adelivery opening 4 and the roof has a semi-circular opening 5 adjacentthe delivery opening. Integral with the floor of the box are a pair ofsprings 6 struck out upwardly from the metal and pressing against astack 1 of razor blades 8. The blades, each with its individualsingle-fold wrapper 9, substantially fill the space within the box abovethe springs. The springs maintain frictional, non-slipping contactbetween the blades and their wrappers and always keep one blade adjacentthe delivery opening. As shown in Fig. 6 the wrapper in one dimension issubstantially the same as the length of the blade and in the otherdimension, when folded, a little wider than the blade. The foldedwrapper thus extends slightly beyond both cutting edges. The blank forthis wrapper is substantially rectangular. It may be scalloped slightlyas shown at [0 to better expos the unsharpened ends ll of the blades.The edge I2, along which the wrapper is folded, is located adjacent thedelivery opening, when the blades are stacked in the box.

The mode of operation is indicated in Fig. 1. With the package held inthe fingers of one hand, the outermost blade is thumbed out and heldmomentarily, as there shown, in the other hand. As the wrapper is openon three sides, the blade may then be grasped with the fingers of thefirst hand at the end extensions II and slid outwardly through the thirdopen side [3, after which, without changing the grip on the blade orotherwise at any time touching the blade, it may be placed immediatelyin the razor holder. This arrangement thus provides a wrapper individualto each blade, which fully covers and protects the blade, while in thepackage and on removal therefrom, from moisture and mechanical damage,and yet requires no unwrapping to get hold of it in the correct mannerfor safe and accurate placement in the holder.

In the alternative construction the blades 8a, here shown of differentcontour from that of the blades 8 (Fig. 6), are similarly protected by asingle-fold wrapper 9a but these wrappers are of special configurationas shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Here the blades are interlocked with theirwrappers by wing extensions l4, M which spread outwardly a distancesomewhat greater than the longitudinal dimension of the box. Thus whenstacked and assembled in the box, as best shown in Figs. 8 and 12, thesewings bend inwardly, and interlock with the shoulders of the blades.This insures against any possible slippage of the blades towards thefolded edge l2. This special wrapper is also reduced in size at the opencorners I5 to expose the shoulders [6 of the blades and the boxconstruction is such that the stack of blades thus wrapped is supportedat these shoulders, thus insuring against slippage of the blades withintheir wrappers in the opposite direction, i. e.,' towards the openlateral edges of the L wrappers. In the construction here shown, the boxis enlarged to provide for a used-blade compartment. A partition I!separates the new-blade and used-blade compartments. A similar springconstruction to that previously described may be provided by forming thesprings 6a'of struck out portions of the partition. The delivery opening4a is enlarged at the corners l8 to accommodate the bent over wingportions of the wrappers when the blades are being withdrawn. In orderto support the blade stack at the shoulders IS, the box is constructedwith shelves l9. These shelves may be part of the floor section of thebox as is also the partition H. The floor section interlocks with theroof section by means of struck out nobs 20 that engage openings 2|along the lower edge of the roof section. An entrance opening 22 isprovided along the upper rear edge of the box for the admission ofblades into the used-blade compartment 23.

I claim:

1. A dispensing package comprising a stack of safety razor blades ofgenerally rectangular contour, each having unsharpened end edges and atleast one longitudinally extending sharpened edge, a conformingcontainer for the stack with means for advancing one blade after anotherto a dispensing position therein, said container having an opening atsaid position of sufficient expanse to permit the blades to be withdrawnedgewise in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edges thereof,and a single fold wrapper for each blade substantially covering the flatsurfaces of the blade and having its folded edge overlapping alongitudinal edge thereof, said wrapper being open at the otherlongitudinal blade edge and restricted in its coverage at the blade endssufficiently to permit edgewise finger engagement thereat when the bladeis withdrawn from the-container and sliding it out through the openlongitudinal edge of the wrapper under the control of such engagement.

2. A dispensing package comprising a stack of safety razor blades ofgenerally rectangular contour, each having unsharpened end edges and atleast one longitudinally extending sharpened edge, a conformingcontainer for the stack with means for advancing one blade after anotherto a dispensing position therein, said container having an opening atsaid position of sulficient expanse to permit the blades to b withdrawnedgewise in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edges thereof,said blades being stacked in the container with sharpened edges thereofadjacent said dispensing opening, and a single fold wrapper for eachblade substantially covering the fiat surfaces of the blade and havingits folded edge overlapping the sharpened edge adjacent the opening,said wrapper being open at the other longitudinal blade edge andrestricted in its coverage at the blade ends sufficiently to permitedgewise finger engagement thereat when the blade is withdrawn from thecontainer and sliding it out through the open longitudinal edge of thewrapper under the control of such engagement.

3. The package according to claim 2, characterized by blades of a typehaving reentrant cuts at the corners thereof and by a wrapper havingwing portions at the two ends of its folded edge bent to engage theedges of the blade at said reentrant cuts.

JOHN G. ROBERTS.

